Radiator assembly



June 12, C RAlBLE RADIATOR ASSEMBLY Filed March 1, 1932 INVENTOR.Chair/cs G Ra 15. 6

A TTORN Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RADIATORASSEMBLY Application March 1, 1932, Serial No. 596,041

2 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to a method for fastening together cast ironsections, the joints of which are to be subjected to hot water pressure,steam pressure, or the like, and is particularly adapted for fittingtogether the sections of cast iron radiators or sectional boilers. Thepurpose of the invention is to provide a joint of this sort, theconstruction of which can be integral with that of the section to whichit pertains, which can be assembled by a simple forced sliding fitprocess without it being necessary to form the adjoining faces with anyhigh degree of accuracy, and which will be tight against the passage ofthe fluid under pressure. At the same time it is one of the purposes ofthe invention to enable assemblies such as radiators, sectional boilersand the like, having a succession of such joints, to be assembled withaccurate overall dimensions.

More in detail, this joint is for the purpose of replacing the presentthreaded nipples or slip nipples which are used for such joints. To theaccomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then,consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detailcertain structure embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various structural forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. l is a longitudinal vertical sectionthrough the sectional opening area of a radiator, taken on the planerepresented by the line 11 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of thearrows; Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through one of thejoints shown in Fig. 1, being taken on the plane represented by the line22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is anenlarged detail of a joint before the elements have been forcedtogether, taken on the same plane as Fig. 1; Figs. and 5diagrammatically illustrate alternative constructions and correspond toFig. 3.

It is to be understood that although the invention is here shown asapplied to a radiator, it is equally applicable to sectional boilers andother suitable uses, as already mentioned.

In Fig. 1 a number of radiator sections, each indicated :by thereference character 1, are shown. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 each ofthese sections has sectional opening areas 2 and a plurality of columns3, the sectional openings being in communication by means of the usualpassages 4 through the joints. The sections are held together by thefrictional engagement of the joints, and the usual longitudinal tie rods5 are used to maintain the assembly against stresses which mightseparate the joints, as in 6 shipping and handling.

Each joint comprises a flange 10 slightly tapered externally as at 11and ending in a face 12 which is preferably substantially vertical,which flange enters an opening 13 in the oppo-' site side of the nextsection. In the preferred form shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the opening 13comprises a flared surface 13, enlarged by an offset 14 into anotherflared surface 15 of greater diameter, ending in a verticalface 16. A-ring 1'7 of suitable non-corrosive malleable material, for example,copper, is used as a closure seal in making up the joint. The size andcross sectional shape of the ring may vary, a round form 17 and a squareform 17' being shown herein by way of illustration but not limitation.Using copper,

a ring thickness on the order of inch for a joint of l inches insidediameter, has been found suitable. This ring is preferably made of roundcross section about inch in thickness. The ring is forced down tightlyand distorted between the opposite surfaces of the flange and openingwhen the flange 10 is forced home.

In forming the joint the sections, with the rings 17 at each joint, areforced up until the 86 faces 12 and 16 abut, by which time the copperrings 17, which in the initial assembly, Fig. 3, preferably fit justinside the opening 13, will have been deformed into a tight contact withboth the inner and the outer element of the joint, 90 Fig. 1. Ingeneral, any form of joint elements may be used which will effectivelyinsure a compression of the deformable ring by what is essentially awedging action forcing the material of the ring into a contact underheavy pressure 96 with the joint material on both sides. By this wedgingeffect the compression at right angles to the line of movement insetting up the joint elements is accomplished far beyond the pressuredirectly applied to the joint. On account of the 100 relation of thejoints to the other parts in radiators and sectional boilers, and inorder that the present joint may be made on existing machinery, it isnecessary to make the joint entirely by direct thrust without anytwisting or screwing movement. In practice, in setting up radiators, theamount of lateral compressive movement will be on the order of ,4; inchand in the larger joints, such as used in sectional boilers, it will beon the order of 1 inch. It is of course understood 11o that thesedimensions are simply those which have proved most satisfactory inpractice for the purposes and they are mentioned here merely as part ofthe background of the art and not as any part of the essence of theinvention. The surfaces 11 and 13 do not engage even in the fully closedposition of Fig. 1.

The exact form of the surfaces 11 and 13 is capable of considerablevariation according to the size of the joint, and more particularlyaccording to the materials used. The results so far obtained with thisinvention, using copper rings, indicate that the maximum angle of taperwith which satisfactory results can be obtained, is about 8 and inpractice it has been found advisable to use flanges and openings inwhich the opposing surfaces are from cylindrical to a taper of about theamount indicated. In theprior art, it has been the custom in assemblingradiators to rely upon the strength of the joints to hold the assemblytogether, and although tie rods are used as a matter of regularpractice, they are for the purpose of supporting the assemblyv againstsuch extraordinary stresses as would pull the joints apart. It is theintention that the same practice will be followed. in the use of thisjoint and therefore the angle of taper and/or flare must be such thatthe ring will engage with each surface within the limits of what may betermed the angle of frictional repose when the joint is completed. Thevalue of this angle will of course be governed by such.

factors as the characteristics of the materials used, the amount ofdistortion which results from forcingthe joint into assembly, and otherfactors.

In the assembly of an alternative form illustrated in Fig. 4, theopening surface, there designated as 134, is shown as flared at an angleof 5 and the flange, there designated as 104, has two cylindricalsurfaces 114 and 114', the latter, at the outer end of 104, being ofless diameter, with an offset. 144 flared surface of the opening isconical without offset andis indicated as 135 while the flange 105 has atapered surface 115 without offset.

It'will be seen from the foregoing that I haveinvented a jointfor thepurposes described which.

is easily formed and easily assembled and which avoids the necessity ofusing. the threaded nipplesor slip nipples which have always been re--between them. In Fig. 5 thegarded as essential in previous assemblies ofthis sort and which add to the expense both for labor and material. Withmy improved construction the joint members can be cast and require butslight machining. Another advantage over either the threaded or slipnipple construction is that the nipples are usually made of malleableiron, which, as is well known, disintegrates much faster than cast ironso that the nipples disintegrate faster than the radiator sections,which are made of cast iron. The non-corrosive rings, on the other hand,have a greater life than the cast iron and their cost is slight for thereason that they are very small.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the structureherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A radiator comprising a plurality of sections, said sections beingconnected by join-ts which consist of spaced male and female portions,said male portion having a tapering flange terminating at its inner endin a face perpendicular to the axis of the joint, said female portionhaving an opening. with an internal flared surface terminating at. itsouter end in a face perpendicular to the axis of the joint, and abuttingsaid first-named face, and a ring of tough compressible material,deformed between said male and female portions by relative slidingaction therebetween, said sections being held to gether mainly by thestrength of said joints.

2. A radiator comprising. a. plurality of sections, said. sections beingconnected by jointswhich consist of tapered male and female elements,faces. at the end of each of said element's adapted to abut and thusdetermine the length,

of the joint while maintaining said male and female elements out. ofcontact, a packing. ring of tough. metal soproportioned as to bedeformedby the closing of said. joint, the angle of inclination of saidelements beingsubstantiall y less thanv the angle of repose ofthepacking .material' whereby when said ring isso deformed it will exerta greater radial than longitudinal binding efiect.

CHARLES G. RAIBLE.

